[weaselnoze]

this was sold to me as a stingray pleco. i havent seen these anywhere but this one particular pet shop. i tried looking it up online but found next to nothing but even worse, i found controversy. i found a site that denounced them as plecos but rather a type of loach. apparently its an algae eater.. can anyone confirm whether or not it truely is a pleco?

 

[joeshmoe]

there real name is hillstream loach there realy cool lilk guys

 

[dprUsh83]

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:


That is an awesome fish!!! :thumbsup:

 

[L's bells]

their not plecs! its a loach and should be kept in cooler waters with alot of flow. others names are hill stream loach as said, hong kong plec and butterfly plec. never heard it being called a stingray plec before.

 

[dprUsh83]

Well whatever it is.....I want it!!!

 

[caferacermike]

They are very neat. I've had them before. Pay no more than $6-8. They are not tropicals. The advice for high flow and cold water is correct as they are a stream fish.

 

[weaselnoze]

can a mod move this to the loach forum?

so being that they are a stream fish, would salt not be a good idear? also do they still eat algae? should i feed them anything special? are they rare because i have only seen them at ONE pet shop. ever. also can they be sucessfully kept with tropical fish?

 

[JouteiMike]

What kind of tank do you have him in (size, pH, temperature)? Be sure to provide plenty of hiding spots and driftwood.

They aren't strictly just algae eaters, but they will in fact eat algae. Give him sinking algae tablets at night. You can also provide fresh veggies, frozen brine shrimp/tubiflex/daphnia. Be sure to vary his diet.

I wouldn't put them in a tropical tank...although they can adapt to slightly warmer temperature, but not higher than 75 degrees. Lower 70s and upper 60s would be ideal. Be sure to have a good amount of water movement and aeration in the tank.

Salt is not necessary.

 

[weaselnoze]

he's in a tank with tigerbarbs and some other stuff at around 78 deg. will this kill him?

 

[JouteiMike]

Have a spare tank? Thinking a setting up a new one?

Although 78 degrees may not kill him, he may not be too happy. They also prefer to be in groups of 3 or more, so if you see any more healthy ones at your store, I'd pick a few more up if you can properly house them in a cooler tank.

Is there anything else in the tank other than Tiger barbs? If there isn't, the barbs will be able to adjust slowly to cooler temps in the low-mid 70s. So you may be fine without a heater. But do him a favor and get him some company of his own kind so he feels a little more comfortable.

I'm still curious as to how big your tank is.

 

[JouteiMike]

Oh whoops, I didn't know you had it right in your signature.

Well scratch my idea about lowering the temp...you have lots of inhabitants in that tank. Again, he may seem fine living in the topical tank, but if you want him to be happy and healthy, he needs a different kind of tank, and a few others of his kind.

Also, the tank is too small to house all those fish.

 

[weaselnoze]

you think its overpopulated? i added two neons today! oh no.. what about setting up a 20 gal?

 

[Lupin]

can a mod move this to the loach forum?

Consider it done.:wink2:

On the side note, I'd never mix them with goldfish. Goldfish are quite messy and hillstream loaches need clean water.

 

[chub]

i have two of these little guys
well i say two i have a spotted (same as the picture) and a
spike headed striped loach which pretty much looks the same shape has the same requirements but has a different pattern

i keep mine in a tropical tank at about 74 deg and they are fine
its often recomended that you keep them in at leased groups of three now if thats not an excuse to get another one lol

i love them great community fish and will clean up to an extent

chub

 

[Noamsamson]

Wow, it looks so cool......It can pass for Pleco......Where did you buy it?